What is the purpose of the zona reticularis?
The zona reticularis is the site of biosynthesis of androgen precursors such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione from cholesterol. These androgens are released into the bloodstream and transported to gonads where they are converted into testosterone or oestrogen.
What is produced in the zona reticularis?
Zona reticularis is the innermost cortical layer, and it produces androgens, mainly dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S), and androstenedione (the precursor to testosterone) in humans.
What is the zona reticularis?
The zona reticularis (sometimes, reticulate zone) is the innermost layer of the adrenal cortex, lying deep to the zona fasciculata and superficial to the adrenal medulla.
Why is it called zona reticularis?
3. Zona reticularis, the innermost layer of the cortex, secretes sex hormones (androgens). and small amounts of glucocorticoids. These hormones are secreted by the inner zone of the cortex, which is called the zona reticularis.
Can zona reticularis produce cortisol?
Although there is evidence that the zona fasciculata produces DHEA, no sulfate ester is formed at that site; and although the zona reticularis contains cortisol-producing cells from the zona fasciculata, the major steroid product of this zone is DHEAS.
What does Reticularis mean?
: the innermost of the three layers of the adrenal cortex that consists of irregularly arranged cylindrical masses of epithelial cells.
Does zona reticularis secrete glucocorticoids?
The human adrenal cortex comprises three distinct zones with unique steroid products, namely the zona glomerulosa, which secretes the mineralocorticoids, the zona fasciculate, which secretes the glucocorticoids and the zona reticularis (ZR), which at adrenarche, begins to produce the so-called adrenal androgens.
Does the zona reticularis produce estrogen?
Zona reticularis surrounds the medulla and produces the adrenal androgens and small amounts of cortisol and estrogens (24).
Does ACTH stimulate zona reticularis?
ACTH is the main stimulus of the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis, stimulating glucocorticoids secretion, while angiotensin II and potassium are the main stimuli of aldosterone secretion by the zona glomerulosa.
Where is cortisol produced?
Cortisol is a steroid hormone, one of the glucocorticoids, made in the cortex of the adrenal glands and then released into the blood, which transports it all round the body.
What does Livedo mean?
Medical Definition of livedo : a bluish usually patchy discoloration of the skin.
What is the function of the zona reticularis?
The human adrenal cortex comprises three distinct zones with unique steroid products, namely the zona glomerulosa, which secretes the mineralocorticoids, the zona fasciculate, which secretes the glucocorticoids and the zona reticularis (ZR), which at adrenarche, begins to produce the so-called adren …
Where does the zona reticularis produce sex hormones?
The deepest region of the adrenal cortex is the zona reticularis, which produces small amounts of a class of steroid sex hormones called androgens. During puberty and most of adulthood, androgens are produced in the gonads. The androgens produced in the zona reticularis supplement the gonadal androgens.
How is zona reticularis related to cortisol synthesis?
Zona reticularis. In humans the reticularis layer does contain 17 alpha-hydroxylase; this hydroxylates pregnenolone, which is then converted to cortisol by a mixed function oxidase. In rodents, the lack of 17alpha-hydroxylase results in the synthesis of corticosterone instead of cortisol as in the human.
Why is the adrenal cortex called the zona fasciculata?
The intermediate region of the adrenal cortex is the zona fasciculata, named as such because the cells form small fascicles (bundles) separated by tiny blood vessels. The cells of the zona fasciculata produce hormones called glucocorticoids because of their role in glucose metabolism.